Nigeria’s escalating violence and overlooked humanitarian emergency

Recent months have seen a surge in kidnappings of schoolchildren, targeted attacks on entire villages, and violent abductions of worshippers from both churches and mosques, thrusting Nigeria into the global spotlight. This wave of violence took on new geopolitical dimensions when the United States launched airstrikes on Christmas Day against jihadist positions in northern Nigeria, framed as a protective measure for Christian communities under threat.

Beyond headlines: the reality of Nigeria’s security crisis

While some American officials now refer to a ‘Christian genocide,’ the United Nations paints a broader—and more complex—picture of a country grappling with systemic insecurity that fuels one of Africa’s most severe and overlooked humanitarian crises.

“Security remains one of the most pressing challenges in Nigeria,” explains Mohamed Malik Fall, who coordinates UN agency operations in the country. “It’s not confined to one region—it’s virtually everywhere.”

The roots and expansion of violent conflict

This crisis stems from the northeast, where an armed insurgency has raged since 2009, first led by Boko Haram and later by its offshoots, including the Islamic State’s West Africa Province. Nearly two decades later, the conflict has deeply fractured the nation.

Over two million people remain displaced—not temporarily, but as a generation that has known nothing but life in camps. Official figures indicate more than 40,000 deaths since the insurgency began, alongside the destruction of thousands of schools and health centers, and the loss of vast agricultural lands. “Entire populations are cut off from economic activity,” Fall emphasizes. “They are deprived of their livelihoods and the ability to preserve their dignity.”

Rising banditry and local conflicts

Beyond the long-standing insurgency, a more diffuse violence has taken hold. In the northwest—particularly in Zamfara, Katsina, and Sokoto—authorities now confront what they describe as ‘banditry’: armed criminal groups engaged in looting, kidnapping, and extortion. “Whole villages have been abandoned,” Fall notes. “Today, nearly one million people are displaced in the northwest alone.”

In the country’s central belt, clashes between farmers and herders—intensified by land pressure and climate shocks—have triggered additional waves of displacement. Further south, separatist movements and sabotage linked to oil exploitation continue to fuel unrest.

With approximately 3.5 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), Nigeria accounts for nearly 10% of Africa’s total displaced population.

Religious targeting or widespread insecurity?

Recent attacks on Christian churches and schools have reignited a contentious debate, extending far beyond Nigeria’s borders. In January, over 160 worshippers were abducted during Sunday services in Kaduna State; shortly before, villages in the northwest were attacked, resulting in dozens of deaths, while students were again targeted near a Catholic school in Papiri.

These shocking incidents evoke painful memories of Chibok, where 276 schoolgirls—mostly Christian—were kidnapped by Boko Haram in 2014.

In response to the violence targeting Christians, the U.S. launched airstrikes on jihadist positions in northwestern Nigeria on Christmas Day. Some Washington officials have since described the situation as a ‘Christian genocide’—a claim the UN refrains from endorsing due to insufficient evidence of deliberate, targeted persecution.

“I would not go so far as to label this a targeted religious persecution,” Fall states. “The vast majority of the more than 40,000 insurgency-related deaths have been Muslims, killed in mosques.”

He points to a December 24 attack in Maiduguri—a historic insurgent stronghold—that struck an area “between a mosque and a market,” killing worshippers leaving prayers. “Insecurity affects everyone, regardless of religion or ethnicity,” he warns. “Such narratives risk deepening divisions rather than fostering social cohesion.”

Massive humanitarian needs, critical funding gaps

Behind the security crisis lies a severe humanitarian emergency. In the northeast alone, 7.2 million people now require assistance, with nearly 6 million in severe or critical conditions, according to the UN.

Food insecurity has become a defining challenge. Projections suggest up to 36 million people could fall into various phases of food insecurity in the coming months. Among children under five, over 3.5 million risk acute malnutrition. “The consequences extend beyond immediate suffering,” Fall cautions. “Malnutrition impairs cognitive development, education, and casts long-term shadows into adulthood.”

Compounding these vulnerabilities are climate shocks—droughts and floods—recurrent cholera and meningitis outbreaks, and a fragile healthcare system.

Yet funding has plummeted. “A few years ago, the humanitarian response plan topped nearly one billion dollars annually,” Fall recalls. “In 2024, it was 585 million. Last year, just 262 million. This year, we may not even reach 200 million.”

Balancing aid and empowerment

Nigeria’s paradox lies in its dual identity: a massive humanitarian crisis unfolding within one of Africa’s largest economies. “Nigeria is not Sudan, Somalia, or South Sudan,” Fall stresses. “It is a country with resources. The government must lead the humanitarian response.”

The UN now urges a gradual transition of leadership to federal and state authorities, while calling on donors not to turn away. “No community wants to live on assistance,” Fall concludes. “People need opportunities to rebuild their lives—not just handouts. Giving a fish feeds today. Teaching to fish sustains tomorrow.”